Grave tomb



J. WESTERN GRAVE TOMB March` 16, 1937.

Filed May 9, 1936 marea Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAVE TOMB John Western, North Chicago, lll. Application May 9, 1936, Serial No. 78,759 2 claims. (o1. tva- 7) This invention relates to improvements in grave vaults and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1 t

In the manufacture of grave vaults, made of a moulded cementitious material, the matter of `making them moistureand waterproof is a difficult problem. Heretofore, in attempting to waterproof such vaults, waterproof material was 'l0 applied as a coating to fthe internal surfaces of the vault, In ordinary vaults Vso treated, moisture is likely to penetrate the porous walls thereof and cause a separation between the vault walls and non-porous waterproof material. Breakage of the seal is then likely with the result that the purpose, i. e. the exclusion of all extraneous elements from the grave vault, is defeated.

One of the objects of the present inventionv is to provide a grave tomb wherein the walls thereof are protected against engagement by the earth filling of the grave so that moisture cannot reach the principal material of which the tomb is made and result in a slow permeation therethru, over a, long period of time.

Another object of the invention i's to provide a tomb of this kind having a non-porous waterproof coating coextensive with its entire external surface, so that grave earth and Water pressure operate to hold the same upon'the tomb, instead of operating to release the same therefrom, as when such coating is onthe internal surface of the ordinary vault.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a tomb with an external non-porous waterproof coating which is reinforced by a textile material embedded therein.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of waterproofing a grave tomb externally and reinforcing the coating thereof and for holding it in place without .sagging during display at relatively highk atmospheric temperature. The above mentioned objects of the invention,

as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a grave tomb with a portion of the cover broken away better to show the construction involved.

Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary section on an 55 enlarged scale thru one side of the tomb.

embodying the preferred form of the inventionv Fig. 3` is a detail fragmentary vertical section on Va further enlarged scale thru a portion of oneof the side walls of the tomb, better to show the manner of reinforcing the waterproof coating.

Referring now in'detail to that embodiment 0f the invention illustrated in the drawing, 5 indicates the body of the tomb and 6 indicates the cover therefor, both Vof which areV made of a moulded cementitious material such as concerete. 10 Ordinarily both the body and cover are reinforced with suitable metallic elements, but as the reinforcing of the body and cover form no particular part of the present invention, the same is not illustrated herein. l5

'I'he body of the tomb which is of an open top rectangular box-like form, includes a bottom wall 'l and pairs of upright side and end walls 81-8 and 9--9 respectively. The cover 6, which is coextensive in area with the body, is 20 preferably arched transversely for strength and drainage.

To provide a tight rsealing closure between the body and cover, as well as to prevent longitudinal or lateral relative shifting, the top edge of the side and end walls of the body and the margin of the cover are formed to provide interengageable parts,

As shown herein, the top edge of the side and t end walls of the body is formed with a medial 3U rib or tongue IIJ, of an upwardly tapering cross section, and in the underside of the margin of the cover is a complemental groove Il. The tongue and groove are so relatively arranged as to match up and interengage when the cover is '5 applied to the body. Preferably the groove is somewhat deeper than the height of the rib so that when the cover is in place, the bottom surface of its margins on each side of the groove seats snugly on the top edge surface of the upright side and end walls of the body, on both sides of the rib or tongue to there provide a tight joint and a better seal.

Preferably the entire external surface of the box-like body and its cover is provided with a, non-porous waterproof covering or coating material, the said material extending about the top edge of the upright Walls of the body and the rib or tongue thereon, as well as about those surfaces of the cover defining the groove Il. This nonporous waterproof material for the box-like body and cover is indicated at l2 and I3 respectively in Fig. 2. Said material may be either an asphaltum or a mixture of asphaltum and hydraulic cement. Either one will strongly adhere to the surfaces to which it is applied.

In applying said non-porous waterproof material, I rst apply a relatively thin coating or 5 layer I4 directly to the external surface of the body and the cover. A textile material I5 is then evenly applied to said coating so as to be coextensive therewith, after which an outside finishing coating or layer I6 is applied to said textile material. It is preferable that the textile material be of a relatively open mesh so that a bonding action takes place thru said textile material, between the two coatings or layers I4 and I so that future separation is thereafter 5 impossible. This arrangement best appears in Fig. 3.

If desired, the coatingr I4 may be of asphaltum and the coating I6 may be of a mixture of asphaltum and cement. Such a coating will better receive paint as a finish if it is so desired Ato apply the same, whereby the appearance of the tomb is enhanced when on display for sale. 'Ihe textile material reinforces the applied waterproofing material and prevents sagging of either coat under relatively high atmospheric temperatures when the tombs are so displayed in the open.

When the improved tomb containing a casket is closed, the non-porous waterproong material following about the rib and groove of the box body and cover, respectively, seals itself into a waterproof joint. When the grave in which the tomb is placed, is filled with earth as in closing the grave, the pressures of such earth, caused by the settling thereof, operates upon the entire outside surface of the tomb with an action tending more firmly to hold the non-porous waterproof material upon the tomb. Thus it is impossible for water or moisture to seep thru. The non-porous waterproof material also prevents any contact between the grave filling earth and the concrete of the tomb, so that no chemical reactions are established which tend to disintegrate the tomb. Also, earth pressure tends to exert a downward thrust upon the cover which more iirmly seals the joint between the box-like body and the cover.

By applying the non-porous waterproof material to the. external surface of the body and cover of the tomb, certain manufacturing advantages are present whereby the cost of production is decreased in proportion. Also, when such tombs are in storage or in transport to the place of use, with the waterproof covering on the external surface thereof, chipping or other damage to the tomb is not apt to occur.

It might also be mentioned that the nonporous waterproof material, being preferably of an asphaltic nature, is non-destructible and will not decay or decompose in the earth. Indeed, it is in effect an earthy material naturally adapted for use in the earth.

If desired, of course, a coating of non-porous waterproof material may also be applied to the inner surface of the tomb, but I am claiming particularly the use of the non-porous material on the exterior of the tomb.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense, so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A grave tomb embodying therein an open top body and a cover therefor, the body member comprising a bottom wall and upright side and end walls,Y the top edges of said side and end walls and the margins of said cover having interengageable parts, a coating of non-porous waterproof material adhered to the external surface of the walls of the body and of the cover, respectively, and to at least certain of said interengageable parts, and a textile material embedded in said non-porous waterproof material and substantially coextensivey therewith.

2. A grave tomb embodying therein an open top body and a cover therefor, both made of cementitious material, the body comprising a bottom wall and upright side and end walls, the top edges of said side and end walls, and the margins of said cover having interengageable parts, a coating of pore-sealing, waterproof material including asphaltum adhered to the external surface of the walls of the body and of the cover, respectively, and to at least certain of said interengageable parts, and a textile material embedded in said waterproof material and substantially coextensive therewith.

JOHN WESTERN. 

